More than 750 alumni and friends gathered at Cipriani 42nd Street on March 3 for the Annual Luncheon to celebrate the achievements of Mark J. Hyland ’80, who received the Medal of Achievement, the highest honor bestowed by the Fordham Law Alumni Association.
Hyland is a partner at Seward & Kissel and co-head of the firm’s litigation group. He is also a member of the firm’s three-person management committee. From 2012 to 2014, he served as the FLAA president and has been a board member since 2008.
“No introduction of [Mark] would be complete without mentioning his leadership of the very alumni association that is honoring him today,” said current FLAA President Sharon McCarthy ’89, in presenting the award to Hyland. “His leadership took the association to great, new heights. He was instrumental in shepherding the FLAA’s strategic plan through its successful conclusion, and he helped engage new communities of alumni through the formation of our first affinity groups.”
Also bestowed at the luncheon were the Rising Star Awards, which recognize the achievements of alumni in three distinct fields who have graduated within the past 15 years. Christopher Miritello ’08 was recognized in the in-house and business field, Marcie Kobak ’11 in government, public interest, and nonprofit field, and Yehudah Buchweitz ’02 in private practice.
After the awards were distributed, Dean Matthew Diller spoke about the strength of the entire Fordham Law community, calling out one particular subsection of graduates.
“Today, there is one special group of Fordham Law alumni that I want to recognize—our alumni members of the judiciary,” Diller said. “An independent judiciary is a critical bulwark of our democracy. Over the years, our alumni on the bench have contributed immeasurably to the School, to the advancement of the legal profession, and to honoring our Constitution and ensuring the rule of law.”